Manama. Her eyes filled with joy and anticipation, Najla Uchi openly displays her exultant enthusiasm about the historic visit of Pope Francis to Bahrain.
“The visit of His Holiness the Pope to Bahrain, at the kind invitation of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, is an opportunity for His Holiness to learn about the unique Bahraini model in promoting coexistence and supporting religious freedoms,” the prominent Christian woman says.
And the woman whose father had been honored by a pope cannot wait to see Pope Francis again, after she saw him in Abu Dhabi in February 2019.
“I am filled with happiness to meet His Holiness the Pope in Bahrain. I went to meet him when he visited the United Arab Emirates, and today I look forward to meeting him in the Kingdom of Bahrain,” she tells Bahrain News Agency (BNA) in her soft voice as we sit on the couch in their family home.
“Yes, I am excited for the Pope to witness the integrated community we live in, how we live in harmony with one another in a country where there is no place for discrimination in race, religion or ethnicity,” she adds in an emotional tone.
“This peaceful environment is attributed to our wise leadership, His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and the people of Bahrain who believe that Bahrain is a country destined to welcome all.”
Sitting with Najla Uchi, a woman with great historical knowledge about Christianity in Bahrain and presenting a fine example in humility and hospitality, is an enchanting experience.
She is the daughter of Salman Uchi, a Christian building contractor.
Beside buildings, Salman also built strong bonds and lasting friendships with Bahrainis. He worked for Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) before moving to work in the court of the Ruler of Bahrain at that time.
He contributed to forming a basic building block for the Christian faith in Bahrain by supervising the construction of the Sacred Heart Church.
The Sacred Heart Church is the first Catholic church in Bahrain, the land of coexistence and peace. The good will and intentions of the country’s rulers generously offered people space in their heart and donated them land for the mosques and churches.
The church, built on a plot of land donated by the late His Highness Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa is a remarkable addition to Bahrain’s impressive record of peaceful coexistence and true peace.
“My father worked at that time as a contractor, and he obtained a license from the ruler of Bahrain at the time, HH Shaikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa who welcomed the construction of the church out of the rich religious pluralism in Bahraini society,” Najla Uchi says.
“With the establishment of the church, Christian families began to flock to perform the liturgy and prayers in the Sacred Heart Church, the first Catholic Church in the Arabian Gulf.”
Uchi was honored in Italy by Pope Pius XII and gave him a medal for his honorable efforts in building the first Catholic church in the Arabian Gulf.
Najla Uchi proudly displays the medal regarded as treasure of the highest value.
As she shares her memories with BNA, Najla Uchi goes through some brochures and pictures that take her back to a distant time. The time when she happily realized that she belongs to a peaceful and secure homeland that embraced her life and the lives of many, a homeland that has always been known as a global model for coexistence, tolerance and the promotion of religious freedoms.
“Life in Bahrain was simple, and we grew up among neighbors from different families with diverse backgrounds in Manama. However, religious, ethnic or linguistic differences were not a barrier between us. We lived in harmony and love with everyone, nothing separated us. We were united by our deep love for Bahrain,” she recalls with a deep sense of gratitude overwhelming her.
“During my upbringing in Bahrain, the number of Christian families was limited. Today, when we attend mass on Sunday, we are among hundreds of Christians.”
While she recalls the past with great fondness, she is content with the fulfilling present and optimistic about the promising future – A role model for so many.
Source: Bahrain News Agency